DAY 9: Chitimba Lodge to Kisulanza camp site

 

Arrival Time

Until today, every vehicle, person and electrical device has shown flaws except our trusty Garmin Suzie, although even her mathematical/geographical skill wavered in her attempts to recalculate our route throughout the morning and then showed error in misidentifying a main road as a gravel path.  Nevertheless, she led us correctly to the Malawi/Tanzania border at her estimated time of arrival.  Malawi has shown us a colourful and friendly approach to our continent, accurately named the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’: a vibrant mixture of game reserves and fresh water extending across the length of the country.  However, as our climb draws ever nearer, the distance to travel reduces, bringing yet another African border in our midst.  The usual passport-stamping, car-paper handling ensued, although the Dyslexic man behind the counter ultimately slowed proceedings by requiring that each person’s name be spelt three times, yet still proceeded to write Laymond Rovett instead of Raymond Lovett on a certified document.  Eventually, after each driver sat through interviews with officials, we were free to leave, though were yet again hassled by airtime sellers and money traders who swarmed the vehicles like flies, each person climbing further into the car with more entrepreneurial enthusiasm than the last.  After shaking off the last of the businessmen and setting our clocks one hour ahead to match the new time zone, we entered into the country home to Rift Valley lakes, Serengeti and the reason we’re all trekking through Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.  

 

Road conditions

Nico accurately stated that we had yet to see an accident, though unfortunately for an unsuspecting truck a further few kilometres down the road, this comment was jinxed as a few minutes later we drove past finding it lying freshly overturned across the width of the road.  The fact that the first accident was on Tanzanian roads is of little surprise as a few potholes are present and speed humps jump out at you half a split second before you speed over them.    

 

Weather conditions

I couldn’t help but smile when I saw South Africans huddled under blankets and scarfs at the Bafana Bafana match whilst I sat in shorts beside the beach.  Hot weather is a beautiful thing, ask Ryan.  After dropping and standing on his sunglasses, he continued to wear the bent accessory diagonally skewed across his face to shield the constant rays.

 

Campsite

Mozambique and Malawi presented us with both beach and bush campsites, water sometimes warm, sometimes hot, though mostly cold, and generally clean mirror-equipped bathrooms.  We probably shouldn’t have taken flushing toilets for granted considering our frequent road-side loo breaks, although the long drops at Kisulanza happened to be the cleanest toilets Africa had shown us.  Tanzanians are by far the friendliest Africans the continent has to offer as warm smiles welcomed us into the ‘Old Farm House’ for a spicy beef supper together with starters before the meal and dessert and coffee thereafter.  

 

Personal

In living with such varying vibrant characters, I’ve noticed that personal traits are similar to those of leading roles in Spud and if our crazy eight had to each be allocated a character, Nico would be Spud’s dad due to his supposed composed nature despite everything falling apart around him, Elmien would undoubtedly be the very special, slightly insane Wombat, Raymond’s Bear Grylls skill identifies him as Mad Dog, and the fact that Ryan drives a Land Rover makes him Rambo.  Riegardt’s ever-present elated enthusiasm towards the upcoming Kili climb is very similar to the great gusto and delight expressed by Garlic towards Lake Malawi and Corinne‘s red hair effectively illustrates her as Amanda.  Lastly, there has been slight dispute between Izel and I as to whom the title of Mermaid should go, however, as the onboard journalist I have claimed the blonde busty title and for lack of a better character, named Izel Fatty.